The month begins with anything but cool astrological weather, as Mars squares Pluto on the 5th. With Mars in Libra, action may be less overt, and we’ll see that folks go through proper channels to get what they want. However, if frustrated by a lack of progress, there could be some explosions. With Mercury retrograde as the month begins, some of that frustration may come from misunderstandings or technical snafus.
Through midmonth and beyond, relatively constructive energy prevails – although keep in mind that Mercury retrograde can slow things down and build frustrations. The full moon in Taurus on the 12th is trine to Saturn and Pluto, an indication that we can use powerful resources for productive purposes. This is a time when we’re likely to see many issues in the collective – government and economics, especially – coming to a head.
Venus squares Neptune on the 14th, helping to put relationships and romance into soft focus. While great for an enjoyable time out, keep in mind that you may be a little less than realistic about partnerships (and partners) around this time.
Mars enters Scorpio on the 19th of the month. While in Libra, the Cosmic Warrior tended to play by the rules (filling out the proper forms, dashing off a terse memo) but in Scorpio he’s on his own turf. In the sign of the scorpion, Mars plays defense, and our challenge is to be self-protective without being reactive. It’s appropriate to protect what’s yours and ours, but we need to be mindful that too much caution can cut off possibilities before they have a chance to blossom.
With Mercury stationing to go direct a day later, on the 20th, there’s certainly the possibility that a misunderstanding or miscommunication triggers Mars’ defensive pose. Remember, too, that Mercurial mishaps multiply around the stations, so double-check technology, transportation, and communications. It’s probably a good idea to speak in-person or by phone rather than relying on texts, emails, and written communication around this time, as once again the Mercury/Mars combination could lead to misinterpretation.
Mars opposes Uranus on the weekend of the 23rd/24th, an energy that could be hard to handle. There’s an impatient, reactive quality to this aspect that can be problematic, especially if you feel threatened or frustrated. It’s a good time to do things you’re sure about, but don’t get caught up in a ‘drama of the moment’.
That said, Venus meets with her BFF, Jupiter, on the same weekend. This is a sweet aspect, especially so in Jupiter’s home sign of Sagittarius. If we can move past the Mars/Uranus tension – or use it constructively – there’s great potential for socializing, romance, and a general good time. In fact, the ‘danger’ of too much of a good thing is the only caveat that comes with Venus and Jupiter together.
After saying goodbye to Jupiter, Venus enters Capricorn on the 25th, where she’ll stay until December 20th. In the sign of the mountain goat (or sea-goat) Venus tends more towards the traditional when it comes to socializing and romance. Great for holiday office parties and more formal occasions, Venus in Saturn’s sign is a little less playful than usual. With meetings with Saturn and Pluto on her social calendar, there could be some decisions made about relationships during the next few weeks.
The new moon is on the 26th, just a few days after the Sun enters Sagittarius. The Sagittarius new moon is a time to look forward to the future. Consider travel plans, educational endeavors, and where you want to explore. While an essentially inward time, we’re focused on ‘big picture’ matters.
With Neptune stationing to go direct just a day later, this new moon represents something of a portal to other worlds, as the subtle realms tend to have easier access when Neptune is prominent in the sky. That suggests on the one hand a kind of spiritual exploration (perhaps via dreams), but on the other hand there could also be a little bit of unrealistic dreaming. The period from the 25th through the 28th is great for inner exploration, but hold off on making important changes in the more earthly, practical realms.
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